Governors dismiss call to quit, says Uhuru statement not linked to corruption fight

The Council of Governors on Friday dismissed calls to step aside, saying President Uhuru Kenyatta only made a political statement that had nothing to do with fighting corruption.


The governors challenged Deputy President William Ruto to vacate office following his ongoing International Criminal Court case in The Hague.


Led by the council chairman Isaac Ruto, they said President Kenyatta has no authority to order elected leaders to leave office.


The governors said the President could have taken the bold move to sack Cabinet and principal secretaries, who are directly appointed by him, to demonstrate that indeed he was committed to fighting corruption within his government.


“Government officials can be fired or the President can give an executive order. Vacation of office by the governors is governed by the Constitution,” Mr Ruto said during a press conference in Nairobi.


Other governors who accompanied him included Meru Governor Peter Munya and his Turkana counterpart, Josephat Nanok.


Mr Munya, who is said to be on the list that President Kenyatta submitted to Parliament, said top government officials mentioned in criminal cases should lead the way in stepping aside.


“Some of them are facing serious criminal charges in a global court. Why are they not stepping aside,” Mr Munya said, seemingly in reference to the deputy president, who is facing crimes against humanity at the ICC.

Stuttering Kenya 7s collapse against Friday's USA

Kenya Sevens blew up a 14-0 lead at the break to lose to Mike Friday’s United States of America 14-21 in their opening match of the Hong Kong Sevens on Friday.


It was a tale of two halves after Kenya dominated in the first half, as Collins Injera lapped up an open Americans defence to burst clear upon kick off for the try that Lavin Asego converted.


Felix Ochieng's charges starved the Americas possession to enjoy a 19-0 passes completion with good display at the breakdowns and defence. And just to prove their dominance, Kenya finish a nine-phase try through skipper Andrew Amonde, who tore through inside the 22-metre line.


Asego’s 100 per cent display with his boot took him past 1000 career points on the World Series circuit. Asego is the first player to do so from Kenya and only the 10th player of all-time to achieve the feat.


It was also a mile stone for Injera who scored his 191st career try of the series.


However, great character from the USA saw Maka Unufe easily weave through from the second half kick-off to score. Speedster Carlin Isles also cashed on awful tackling from the Kenyans to go clear inside his own half for his 50th career try to level matters.


CAUGHT FLAT-FOOTED


Danny Barrett caught the Kenyans defence flat-footed as he ran in on the right to score. Kenya’s last-gasp effort to draw matter levels was thwarted by a penalty call from the referee while inside USA’s 22 metres line.


Kenya have a battle at hand as they must win their two Pool D remaining matches on Saturday so as to make it to the Cup quarter-final. They take on England and Wales at 6.12am and 10.14am respectively.


Kenya Sevens have lost twice to England and Wales this season. They went down to England 0-38 and 12-21 at the pool stage in Dubai and USA respectively. They lost to Wales 19-24 in Gold Coast and 5-29 in South Africa.

State determined to see urban slums slump

THE government is determined to halve urban slums by 2025, according to Zanzibar Second Vice-President, Ambassador Seif Ali Iddi.

Presiding over a two-day regional roundtable by the Institute of African Leadership for Sustainable Development (UONGOZI Institute) in Dar es Salaam, Ambassador Iddi said the government is working on a number of strategies to achieve the target.

Facilitation of access to credit for urban real estate developers to improve the quality of housing, decreasing the cost of housing in urban and rural and creation of conducive environment for mortgages are some of the strategies the government is pursuing.

Ambassador Iddi added the government is facilitating the establishment of Housing Cooperatives at village and district levels.

“Critical to the success of these initiatives is the strengthening of the National Housing Corporation and the National Housing and Building Research Agency, where we intend to strengthen the skills for construction and management of human settlements development,” Ambassador Iddi noted.

In addition he said local government and regional administration are working with their local communities to facilitate regularisation of unplanned settlements.

“This is also being carried out in the formalization of informal businesses to provide them access to financial services that can help them protect and grow their businesses,” he explained.

He stressed that stemming and eventually reversing the development of informal settlements in the future is a major challenge that urban planners, designers and managers must address, underscoring the importance of involvement of citizens in the process.

“When organized and managed in this way, these initiatives and processes become capacity building programmes for inclusive urban planning and implementation,” he explained.

He said looking forward on how the public wants to live in 2015 or 2100, there is a need to reflect on the reality of urban livelihoods as they are today in 2015, since there is a growing housing shortage across the Eastern Africa.

“The growing temporary shelters or informal settlements are prone to natural disasters like flooding, as well as characterized by high levels of crime, insecurities, diseases and hardships,” he noted.

He said Tanzania is also in the midst of several comprehensive legal reforms for the inclusive registration and management of land, which will enable all citizens, both women and men, to have equal rights in land ownership.

The Uongozi Institute Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Prof Joseph Semboja said that the forum intends to look at and discuss the various challenges and opportunities presented by urbanization in the region and how African leaders can tackle them in an inclusive manner.

“An increasing proportion of Africa (and indeed the world’s) population is living in urban areas, adding to the congestion and pressure of housing, jobs and public services.

The forum is therefore meant to discuss how to address such challenges and imagine cities that reflect our desires,” said Prof. Semboja.

He said according to UNHabitat’s publication ‘The State of African Cities 2014’, East Africa is the world’s least urbanized but fastest urbanizing sub-region and by end of the current decade its urban population will have increased by 50 per cent and the total number of urban dwellers in 2040 is expected to be five times that of 2010.

“In fact urbanization and urban development are both positive products and forces for human development and economic growth -- if we can get them right.

And that is what this regional round-table is all about. To set us on the right course by identifying top priorities and key ingredients of progress,” added Prof. Semboja.

The high level participants of the roundtable hailed from governments, regional and international organizations, major cities, academia, private sector and civil society organizations of Burundi, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda.

EA leaders address security threats

THE East African Community (EAC) Summit of Heads of State has vowed to urgently upscale implementation of relevant counter measures and directives to address current and emerging security threats in the region.


In particular, the summit directed partner states to expedite implementation of interventions contained in the revised strategy for regional peace and security, as well as those in the counter terrorism strategy.


The 16th Ordinary Summit held in Nairobi, Kenya on Friday, brought together heads of state of member states and saw President Jakaya Kikwete assuming the EAC Chairmanship from the host President Uhuru Kenyatta.


According to a joint communique, the summit reviewed the current security situation in the region and also considered the security state in South Sudan.


“The summit noted and welcomed the agreement on the establishment of the transitional government of national unity and also called for immediate and permanent ceasefire signed on February 1, this year, in Addis Ababa by the two parties in the conflict.


“The summit also called upon the two parties to abide by the terms of the agreement and ensure sustainable peace, security and resettlement of all returnees and internally displaced persons,” read the communique in part.


The summit further welcomed and supported efforts to reunite the Southern People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) party being held in Arusha and saluted Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) and ANC for facilitating the re-unification process.


The theme of the summit was ‘Deepening and Accelerating Integration: Towards Political Federation and also received an annual report of the council of ministers covering the period of November 2013 and 2014 and noted the steady progress made in the implementation of the programmes of the community.


Among others, the summit also approved and signed the protocol to extend jurisdiction of the East African Court of Justice (EACJ) covering trade and investment, as well as matters associated with the implementation of the protocol on the establishment of the East African Monetary Union (EAMU).


Meanwhile, Dar es Salaam joined four other capitals of EAC member states at the official launching of Video Conference Communication System, an event graced by the Chief Secretary, Ambassador Ombeni Sefue.


Speaking at the event which was simultaneously held in Bujumbura (Burundi), Kigali (Rwanda), Kampala (Uganda), Nairobi (Kenya) and Dar es Salaam, Ambassador Sefue said the application of the system could not be overstated.


“Video conferences will not only reduce costs of travel previously incurred in need of joint meetings, but also speed up consultation on matters of mutual interest among EAC member states.


The system will increase efficiency in decision making and implementation of agreed matters,” Amb. Sefue observed. Speaking from the coordination office in Nairobi where the launch was officially done out by President Kikwete who is the new Chairman of the Heads of State Summit, urged citizens in the region (EA) to take advantage of the Information and Communication Technology (ICT).


Mr Kikwete greeted government officials in the respective capitals to prove the effectiveness of the system.

Hippo offering a ‘worm’ motherly kiss to its calf is not intimidated by a ‘mare’ sound from a catfish

EVERY Saturday the Daily Blog carries a feature titled “In the Wild”. There would be an article telling us one thing or the other about animal behaviour in the wild savannah.


I find these articles very educative as well as entertaining. So, this weekend, we savour how the writer delivers his message about the animal world.


I have three articles in front of me carrying the following titles: “How catfish mysteriously benefit leopards” (10 January); “Serengeti annual migration best in the World” (31 January); and, “The Evolving Hippopotamus of African wetlands” (February 7). The articles are accompanied by fantastic photographs of animals doing this or that action.


I like the photograph of mother and baby hippo apparently showing affection to each other. This is how the caption under this photograph reads: “The deadliest animal in Africa ‘offer a worm motherly’ kiss to its calf”.


We are used to see adult birds feeding their young ones on worms but do young hippos, or adult ones for that matter, feed on worms?


The article does not tell us. We however believe that mother hippo is not offering a worm kiss. What the writer wanted to write about was “a warm motherly kiss”, not “a worm motherly kiss”. “Worm” and “warm” should be included in the forthcoming edition of Longhorn’s Students’ Companion, under the category “Words Liable to be Confused”.


The list in the current edition is short but includes words such as: “adapter and adaptor”, “alley and allay”, “altar and alter”, “ascent and assent”, “bare and bear”, “beach and beech”; “cheap and cheep”, “boy and buoy”; “dye and die”, “course, coarse and cause”; “fare and fair”; “feet and feat”; “flea and flee”; “heal and heel”; “guerilla and gorilla”; “grate and great”; “ingenious and ingenuous”; “key and quay”; “cue and queue”; “rain and reign”; “shear and sheer”; “sore and soar”; “sum and some”; “son and sun”; “stationery and stationary”; “ware and wear”; “week and weak”; “woo and woe”; “wreak and wreck”; and many others.


“Warm and worm” should be included on this list in the book since they are currently missing. The caption accompanying the photograph should read:


“The deadliest animal in Africa ‘offers a warm motherly kiss’ to its calf”. The story about the catfish is characterised by the writer missing out on putting an “s” on various words, where this is a must.


Describing the catfish, the writer had this to say: “These are elusive ‘fishes’ ‘who’ live mysterious life which ‘enable’ them feed the leopard when antelopes and other herbivorous ‘mammal’ migrate to greener ‘pasture’


………


In savannah during dry season sunrays heat the ground for a ‘longer’ time leading to most seasonal streams, rivers and ‘swamp’ to lose big amount of water through evaporation which also ‘make’ the remaining amount to be inhabitable to marine ‘creature’ because of contamination and lack of oxygen”.


My re-write of the above quotation would go along the following lines: “Catfish are an elusive fish species which live a mysterious life which exposes them to be fed upon by leopards when antelopes and other herbivorous mammals migrate to greener pastures ………


In the savannah, during the dry season, sunrays heat the ground for a long time leading to most seasonal streams, rivers and swamps to lose large amounts of water through evaporation which makes the remaining amount of water inadequate for habitation for marine creatures because of contamination and lack of oxygen”.


In order to protect themselves from predators such as leopards, catfish take protective action: “When catfish notice any danger they will stop and miraculously produce drumming sound which can terrify people like me or you but the feline will not be intimidated by ‘a mare’ sound, and they will continue with a night feast to their satisfaction”.


A mare sound? Not likely. A mare is an adult female horse. The adult male horse is called a stallion. Our conviction is that by ‘a mare sound’ the writer had “mere sound” in mind.


The writer tells us some dangers facing catfish: “Some catfish die when they fail to manoeuvre through difficult terrain covered by sticking mud as a result die through suffocation and become food for ‘staving’ scavengers such as ‘vulture’ and ‘hyena’’. “Staving scavengers?” No. These scavenger animals are short of food. Therefore we are talking of “starving scavengers”.


A rewrite, is as follows: “Some catfish fail to manoeuvre through difficult terrain covered by sticking mud and as a result, die through suffocation and become food for starving scavengers such as vultures and hyenas.” Have a nice weekend.

PM cautions against imposing leadership aspirants on public

PREMIER Mizengo Pinda has cautioned leaders of the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) against imposing candidates vying for leadership positions of their choice, but instead should leave the public to make their own choices.


Mr Pinda issued the warning in Iringa where he is on a five-day tour of the region to inspect development projects. He said on different occasions when he made stops to address the public at Mlowa, Magozi and Kiwele villages in Iringa district.


“This is an election year and it is a very important exercise for a democratic country like ours. Let us leave party members and the public to decide on who they want to lead them, they should not be influenced to elect leaders whom they do not want,” he said.


He said that the candidates in question are for all posts from councillors to Members of Parliament (MPs) as well as those vying for the presidency. Meanwhile, Premier Pinda has urged Tanzanians to be God-fearing for the nation to have outstanding citizens for its prosperity.


Speaking at a requiem mass for the retired Roman Catholic Bishop, the late Magnus Mwalunyungu held at Moyo Mtakatifu wa Yesu, Tosamaganga in Iringa on Friday, the prime minister also said that despite the fact that we cannot get used to death, it remains inevitable. “Religious teachings remind us of the obligation to be God-fearing and good citizens.


Peace loving people allow growth of orderliness, unity and prosperity,” Mr Pinda said. The prime minister, represented President Jakaya Kikwete at the funeral of the cleric who passed away at the age of 85.


President Kikwete is currently attending the East African Community (EAC) Heads of State Summit in Nairobi. Delivering his sermon at the funeral, Bishop Damian Dallu of Roman Catholic Songea Arch- Diocese said people fear death because they are not certain of life after death.


“We can learn great lessons from the late Bishop Mwalunyungu in terms of religious devotion. He has died at the age of 85, but for 55 years he served God as a priest and 22 years as a Bishop.


After his retirement he volunteered as congregational priest of Kidamalai congregation,” Bishop Dallu said. In another development, the government has announced plans to employ more than 35,000 secondary school teachers in the next financial year, to make up for the shortage of teachers as part of improving the standard and quality of education in the country.


Addressing residents of Kiwere ward in Iringa District, Mr Pinda said qualified teachers will be deployed to all schools to the convenience of students and the nation at large.


He reminded district authorities of their obligation to have in place science subject laboratories in all public schools before end of June, this year, to comply with the directives issued by President Kikwete early this month.

Pluijm wants Yanga improvement

YOUNG Africans SC Head Coach, Hans Van De Pluijm has shown disapproval of his team’s performance at the Sokoine Stadium in Mbeya, despite earning a massive 3-0 win against their host Prisons FC on Thursday, in the ongoing Vodacom Premier League (VPL).


The Dutchman expressed his dissatisfaction of his squad display in the match, but said he was happy with the results which saw his team leapfrogging defending champions Azam FC to the top of VPL standing.


“I’m disappointed with the team performance in today’s (Thursday) match, but I am happy with the result we have obtain against our host,” said the Dutchman.


Pluijm seems to be eager to see some improvement in performance of his team, which will take another Mbeya region top-flight club Mbeya City at the same venue on Sunday.


Pluijm is determined to take all the six points in the Southern Highland city to consolidate his team’s position at the top of the table.


Commenting on the game, Yanga Captain Nadir Haroub Ally said although they emerged handsome victory, the game was tough and the cold weather was a little bit not in their favour.


He said their opponents tried hard to stop them but was pleased that they managed to grab maximum points. “It was a tough match, the weather was not in our favour but we managed to win the game and we are now looking forward to face another tough encounter against Mbeya City on Sunday (tomorrow), every game is like final to us,” he said.


Haroub said they respect Mbeya City, acknowledging that their opponents are among the best teams in the league but said they will go into the match with the same objective of chalking the home team and win maximum points.


The no non-sense central defender promised Yanga supporters that they will battle to their last breath to ensure they emerge with victory.


Yanga, who are the country’s representatives in the CAF Confederation Cup tournament are utilising the league matches as part of its preparations for the return leg, preliminary round match against Botswana’s BDF XI FC in Gaborone scheduled to take place next weekend.


Yanga will take to Gaborone a 2-0 lead they attained in the first leg at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam last Saturday and they only need a draw of any kind to sail into the first round of the continental second tier club event.


A 1-0 defeat will still allow Yanga to go into the next round. On his side Prisons’ Captain Fred Chudu conceded the defeat, saying their opponents took charge of the first half of the game and utilised it well scoring quick goals to make things difficult for them to come back into the game.


The league continues today with Kagera Sugar, seating third on 21 points confronting Polisi Morogoro at the Kambarage Stadium in Shinyanga.


A win for Kagera Sugar will only bring them closer second placed Azam on 26 points. On the other hand, a win for Polisi will see the Adolf Rishard’s side taking a huge leap from the eighth slot to the third with 22 points.


Coastal Union will be Ndanda FC guests at the Nangwanda Sijaona Stadium in Mtwara, with both sides looking for three crucial points.


If Coastal register victory over Ndanda they will also move to the top four positions of the league, while victory for Ndanda will move them away from the relegation zone, which they are currently staring at.


Ndanda is currently placed 11th in the league standing on 16 points, one above Stand United, who are in the relegation together with Mgambo JKT and Tanzania Prisons on 14 and 11 points respectively.


The day will also see action at the Mkwakwani Stadium in Tanga, when Mtibwa Sugar will battle it out against Mgambo JKT, who lost 4-1 against Stand United in the previous match.


Mtibwa Sugar, who were held to a barren draw by Ndanda FC in their previous match, will be targeting a win against their host, to regain its winning formula which they lost since the kick off of the second round.

Need to get local trained, experienced sports experts

WHEN Tanganyika got her political independence on December 9th 1961 (before it would change its name to Tanzania on April 26th 1964 following the Union with Zanzibar), one of the major challenges it faced was non-availability of trained manpower.


In one of his early speeches, the founding father of the nation, Mwalimu Julius Nyerere, said at the time of independence, Tanganyika had one medical doctor and one engineer!


It was thus not surprising that because of the shortage of trained manpower, many important leadership and technical posts were given to people who had barely had ten classes of education.


It was due to the shortage of trained manpower that the country is known to have appointed even taxi drivers like Mustapha Songambele as regional commissioners their qualification being nothing but their possession of enlightened political outlook.


However, it hardly took ten years for the country to get most of its required manpower that would fill in all kinds of technical and other posts in its socioeconomic sectors.


Since then, the question of trained manpower is no longer an issue. In fact, over the years, Tanzania has been so much endowed with highly trained manpower that it has for the last three decades become one of the leading exporters of trained manpower in the continent.


But since the country succeeded in taming the problem of shortage of manpower, a second problem has been rearing its ugly head, namely, the country’s failure to put the right crop of trained manpower where they are required.


It’s therefore not surprising to find a number of places facing shortage of trained manpower when the people who can fill in such posts are in galore.


For instance, take a hard look at any place or institution which is facing shortage of trained manpower and more often than not you would discover that the problem lies not in non-availability of the right people, but rather on either deliberate move on the part of the leadership to fill in the place with unqualified people (relatives and friends) or simply laziness in hunting for the right crop of experts.


For instance, the former minister for energy and minerals, Sospeter Muhongo was fished out of the country where he had been working very successfully as a geologist.







The same thing could be said about the former minister for transport, Mr Omar Nundu, a highly trained aircraft engineer (who had worked for Air Tanzania Corporation) who had been working for an international aviation company in Canada.




Presently, one of the problems facing Tanzania is poor performance in regional, continental and international sports ranging from athletics to football and from boxing to basketball. Since football was introduced in Tanzania by the colonialists, the country has never qualified for the Fifa World Cup.




And continentally, the last time Tanzania qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations, Afcon, was in 1980 in Lagos, Nigeria. But as already noted, our sporting problems have more to do not with the non-availability of sports experts but rather by our failure to fish out such experts who are in galore.




Instead of fishing out sports experts who are living in our midst we have, for years, been busy either sidelining them or going for poorly trained and experienced sports experts.




For instance, I have always asked myself whether we really understand or take into account the importance and complexity of numerous posts that our government or public institutions fill in with what they consider to be the requisite crop of experts. For instance, take the ministry for Information, Youth, Culture and Sports as a case in point.




Before appointing leaders for the ministry, do we really know the importance of this ministry for the development and improvement of the country’s information network that includes, among others, its delivery to the masses, the development of the country’s cultural outlook?




Do we consider the importance of this ministry for getting roadmap for the development of our youth apart from simply referring their present joblessness as time bomb?




Do we consider the importance of sports development from grass-root level as one of the areas that those we would be putting in the ministry as experts would help us in ensuring such development?




Do we take a hard look before we start looking for coaches for our respective soccer clubs or it’s just a question of business as usual? Honest response to the foregoing questions is very important in getting Tanzania out of its present sporting rut.




Tanzania, and in particular, sports clubs and institutions need to start scouting for indigenous sports experts before they start looking for such experts from abroad.




We need to ask ourselves hard questions whether or not our sporting problems can only be cured through the provision of a foreign coach. We need to get away from a situation where we bring foreign coaches more as vogue rather than for their value for money.




In conclusion, it’s perhaps important to remind ourselves that the first and last time we reached the final of the CAF Cup was in 1993, and the club was Simba Sports under the tutelage of a local coach by the name of Abdallah ‘King Mputa’ Kibadeni. Let’s think hard on that.

Putting African on Mobile market, through VMK

WHEN a young Congolese entrepreneur introduced the first African-designed tablet and smartphone, some in the local tech community were skeptical.


When 26-year-old Congolese entrepreneur Verone Mankou followed up the introduction of the first African-designed tablet with the announcement of the first African-designed smartphone, some within the local tech community looked on skeptically.


This was Africa after all, and other tablets and smartphones claiming to be “African” were shown to be little more than Chinese designs with only superficial unique traits. It also didn’t help that Mankou’s company, VMK, was based in the Republic of Congo.


Speaking at the third annual Tech4Africa conference in Johannesburg last month, Mankou touched on the difficulties of running VMK from Congo.


He also stressed, despite the hurdles, why he thought it was important for an African company to invest in the local smartphone and tablet markets.


“Only Africans can know what Africa needs,” he said. “Apple is huge in the U.S., Samsung is huge in Asia, and we want VMK to be huge in Africa.”


His products, the Way-C tablet and Elikia smartphone are part of an effort to take on the technology giants in his own back yard. The Way-C, or “the light of the stars” in the local Lingala language, is a small tablet roughly the size of Samsung’s Galaxy Tab.


It measures 7.4” x 6.7” x 0.5” and weighs 13.4 ounces. Wi-Fi connectivity and 4GB of internal memory come standard. While its specs aren’t eye-popping, the price is. At $300, it comes in less than the iPad mini.


The Elikia (“Hope”) is an Android-based smartphone with a 3.5-inch display, rear and forward facing cameras, 512MB of RAM, and a 650MHz processor. It retails for $170 without a contract.


The aim, says Mankou, is to get these products into African hands by making them easier to afford. There has been some negative reaction on local tech blogs, and much of it seems to come from a belief that these products are made by what is called an original equipment manufacturer, or OEM.


A few years ago, Africa’s “first” tablet was found out to be an OEM product available not only in Nigeria, but throughout the world sold under different names.


Its claims of being African were shot down, and the company was regarded as just another merchant pushing foreign products on local consumers.


Mankou’s VMK is adamant that this is not the case with its products, even devoting a page on its website to address the accusation.


Brazzaville, the capital city and home base for VMK, is known more for being an entrepôt to the nation’s huge oil reserves than a home for innovative business.


The World Bank ranks Congo-Brazzaville as the 183rd worst country to do business in, out of the 185 nations measured. It often takes more than half a year to start a company in Congo-Brazzaville, compared to just 13 days in the States. But this is where Mankou chooses to do business.


“Congo has the same problems as all sub-Saharan African countries: it’s difficult to get funding, so it’s difficult to create big projects,” he told local technology blog TechCentral. After spending nearly two years fundraising, Mankou finally had enough to start making African-deisgned tablets and later smartphones for his countrymen.


Some of the first images of Elikia show an engraved “Designed in the Republic of Congo, assembled in China,” intentionally mirroring Apple’s “Designed by Apple in California.”


Much of the marketing behind the Elikia and the Way-C seems like an attempt to ape the products’ Apple counterparts. Like Apple, VMK has had to answer for manufacturing its products in China, a country with a higher per-capita GDP than the Congo.


Earlier this year Mankou told the AFP that VMK wanted to keep as much of the phone African as possible, but decided to manufacture it in China “for the simple reason that Congo has no factories and for price reasons.”


Yet some question the wisdom of manufacturing high-priced items overseas and marketing them to what remains a wealthy elite in Congo.


Mankou plans to sell his products outside of Congo in the near future, and has already moved into 10 other West African countries and even Belgium, France and India.

Showdown looms as Cord plots Parliament siege to block key Bill

Opposition politicians have vowed to seal off Parliament Buildings tomorrow to stop MPs from passing a security Bill on terrorism, raising the possibility of a clash with police.


As a prelude to the siege on Parliament over the Security Laws (Amendment) Bill, which they describe as draconian, Cord leaders will today meet at the famous Kamukunji Grounds to rally the public behind the blockade.


The leaders are also planning a series of street protests and court action to block the enactment of the Bill because the “tyranny of numbers” will prevent a fair contest in the National Assembly.


Machakos Senator Johnson Muthama said Tuesday: “I want to tell Kenyans that on Thursday we will enter Parliament at 6am, we will also block Uhuru Highway. If they want to kill us, let them kill us because it is better than being a slave. Thursday is a big day for Kenya,” he said at Ufungamano House in Nairobi yesterday.


“National Assembly Minority Leader Francis Nyenze, Cord MPs and senators will meet at Kamukunji to demand the inclusion of the Senate in reviewing the Bill.


“There is no law, which affects counties, that can be passed without the input of the Senate,” he said.


Cord co-principal Raila Odinga outlined 10 reasons he thinks the proposed law is dangerous and should be opposed if democracy is to prevail and the freedom and rights of the people protected.


“The Bill introduces a new type of law that makes people responsible for the actions of others. For example, trade unions will now be liable to companies for economic losses resulting from strikes or to the government for causing traffic jams,” he said.


He added that the proposed law takes away the power to impose a curfew from the Inspector-General of Police and bestow it to the Cabinet Secretary. The decision, Mr Odinga said, would be on political grounds, not on professional security risk assessment.


He added that the Bill does not define what is “obscene”, “gory”, or “offensive” and therefore, interpretation would be at the discretion of the police.


“We saw our President protest strongly at the International Criminal Court at The Hague when the prosecution applied to Kenya to provide information. The President must also respect the same rights for the rest of Kenyans.


WESTGATE ATTACK


“The Bill limits the right of the media to give accurate information. The restrictions under the proposed law would have rendered last year’s coverage of the terrorist attack on the Westgate Shopping Mall in Westlands illegal.


“We would only have known what the police wanted us to know. The coverage of Mandera attacks would also have been illegal,” said Mr Odinga.


Siaya Senator James Orengo said the Bill should not be amended, but rejected, as the process through which it was published is unconstitutional.


BILL OF RIGHTS


“Parliament is trying to unconstitutionally pass 36 new laws in the guise of this single Bill. The government is deliberately violating the Bill of rights and eroding all the democratic gains we have made over the last two decades,” he said.


Constitutional Law Expert Yash Pal Ghai said the rash manner in which the Bill was prepared was suspect.


“The law has been amended under the Miscellaneous Amendment Act, but the contents of these amendments deny Kenyans key rights and freedoms. It is a big blow to the fundamental principles of our Constitution,” he said.


IN HIS OWN WORDS


10 Reasons why the security laws (amendment) Bill is dangerous:


1 It takes away the right to assemble, demonstrate, picket and present petitions to public authorities by giving the Cabinet secretary power. Trade unions can now be neutralised and political activity, the government would become dictatorial.


2 It introduces a new type of law that makes people responsible for the actions of others. This is what they mean when they say a person convicted of convening a rally, meeting or procession will be made liable for any loss suffered.


3 It takes away the power to declare curfew from the Inspector-General of Police and gives it to the Cabinet secretary. The decision to impose a curfew will not be based on a professional security risk assessment but on political grounds.


4 It restricts the right of the people to receive information if that information is considered “obscene”, “gory” or “offensive”. The Act does not define “obscene”, “gory”, or “offensive” and this will depend on police interpretation.


5 It takes away the right of an accused person to be told what evidence the prosecution has. We saw our President complaining that the prosecution was withholding evidence at the International Criminal Court at The Hague.


6 It requires an accused person to disclose his witnesses and evidence to the police. Our president protested strongly at the ICC when the prosecution applied to Kenya to give the prosecution information.


7 It institutionalises the military into our civilian life by putting them in the Firearms Licensing Board and Inter-agency security advisory committee. As Kenyans, we keep our military out of civilian affairs.


8 It gives the right to police to obtain information from landlords about tenants even in the absence of an investigation. Allowing this is only opening up a new plantation for them to harvest where they did not sow.


9 It brings back to Kenya the dreaded Special Branch in a more lethal formation. The National Intelligence Service now has power to search premises and take away property without having a warrant from court.


10 It limits the right of the media to give true and accurate information. The restrictions on media under the proposed law would have made the coverage of Westgate attack illegal.

US 'concerned' by new security law Tweet comment Print

The Obama administration has said it is "disappointed" and "concerned" by sections of the Security Laws (Amendment) Bill.


In a statement from State Department spokesperson Jen Psaki on the Bill that was signed into law on Friday by President Uhuru Kenyatta, Washington however reaffirmed its support of Kenya's fight against terrorism.


"The US government is firmly committed to supporting Kenya's efforts to defeat Al-Shabaab and to ensure security of all of its citizens.


"We are disappointed, however, by the very limited time allowed for debate and consultation on the 2014 Security Laws (Amendment) Bill prior to its passage and enactment into law," the statement read.


"We are also concerned about several provisions in the legislation, including those that appear to limit freedom of assembly and media, and access to asylum for refugees.


"As a key partner in the global effort to counter terrorism, we expect the Kenyan government to ensure that its counterterrorism efforts live up to Kenya’s international commitments and its own constitution.


"Protecting Kenya’s constitution and upholding human rights, democracy, and international obligations are among the most effective ways to bolster security."


The Security Laws (Amendment) Bill was passed by MPs in an acrimonious session on Thursday. Legislators scuffled in the chamber as debate descended into chaos, prompting the chairman of the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission, Mumo Matemu, to announce on Friday that MPs who disrupted the session were being investigated and could lose their seats.


'DEPLORABLE CONDUCT'


In an address to the nation shortly after signing the Bill on Friday, President Kenyatta said they would help boost the government's fight against terrorism and criminal activities such as poaching and cross-border trafficking.


Reacting to the ill-tempered session, the President said Opposition MPs in the National Assembly and senators had exhibited a “deplorable conduct.”


He described Thursday’s session as an “unfortunate incident” that denied Kenyans a chance to follow the House proceedings.


He praised members from the ruling Jubilee coalition for passing the law despite the chaos and mayhem.


On the deregistration of NGOs, Washington said it was seeking "further information" on the decision.


"A strong civil society is vital to democracy, security, and prosperity. We urge the Government of Kenya to ensure the regulation of NGOs is transparent, fair, and grounded in clear criteria that do not limit free expression, association, or assembly," the statement said.

Raila summons elders with Homa Bay seat on the card

Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party leader Raila Odinga addresses delegates during the National Governing Council held at the Bomas of Kenya on December 5, 2014. Odinga has called a meeting of Luo elders at his Opoda home in Bondo, on Sunday, to discuss a wide range of issues, including suggestions by a section of leaders that he should seek the Homa Bay Senate seat. PHOTO | JEFF ANGOTE | NATION MEDIA GROUP
In Summary

A few members of the Homa Bay county assembly have also been invited to the meeting where the possibility of Mr Odinga’s candidature will be on the table.
He said that if Mr Odinga offers himself as a candidate, it will provide him with a forum to reach out to millions of Kenyans.
The county is home to most of the MPs branded rebels for agitating for internal change with the ODM establishment. They include Mr James Rege (Karachuonyo), Mr Sylvance Osele (Kabondo Kasipul), Mr George Oner (Rangwe) and Mr Augustinho Neto (Ndhiwa). advertisement

By ISAAC ONGIRI
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ODM leader Raila Odinga has called a meeting of Luo elders at his Opoda home in Bondo Sunday to discuss a wide range of issues, including suggestions by a section of leaders that he should seek the Homa Bay Senate seat.


Despite opposition to the proposal for the former Prime Minister to enter the Senate, some of Mr Odinga’s allies are determined that he contest the seat left vacant by the death last month of one of his key lieutenants, Otieno Kajwang’.


The by-election is slated for February 2, but political parties are expected to confirm their candidates by December 19 in primaries. The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission gave January 5 and 6, 2015 as the dates for receiving nomination papers.


The elders being assembled at Mr Odinga’s home Saturday have been carefully selected from the entire region and include elected leaders.


The Sunday Nation has learnt the group will include the new ODM chairman and Suba MP John Mbadi, the Director of Elections and Suna East MP Junet Mohammed, Homa Bay County Woman Representative Gladys Wanga, Homa Bay Central MP Opondo Kaluma, Kasipul MP Oyugi Magwanga, nominated MP Dr Oburu Oginga and at least 50 elders.


NO COMPETITION
A few members of the Homa Bay county assembly have also been invited to the meeting where the possibility of Mr Odinga’s candidature will be on the table.


When contacted Mr Mohammed said: “This is a routine exercise. We will be strategising on how to handle the Homa Bay senatorial seat broadly and also planning for the Kajiado Central seat.


We have already asked the Jubilee side not to field a candidate — they have poached our MP (Interior Cabinet Secretary nominee Joseph Nkaissery) and we must be allowed to sponsor a candidate unopposed.”


Mr Mohammed will be squarely in charge of the two by-elections after the National Governing Council on Friday picked him as the party’s director of elections moments after Mr Odinga proposed the creation of the new powerful office.


On Wednesday, a group of ODM MPs urged Mr Odinga to consider running for the Homa Bay seat. But the former PM is yet to comment on the matter.


On Saturday, Mr Kaluma, who is in Arusha on official business, said the Opoda meeting is not meant to confirm Mr Odinga’s proposed candidature.


“We have expressed support for Mr Odinga to run. This is not unusual, there are so many other world leaders before him who did the same previously after holding higher offices. You know the story of Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel, Gordon Brown of Britain and many more,” he said.


SERIOUS PROPOSAL
He said that if Mr Odinga offers himself as a candidate, it will provide him with a forum to reach out to millions of Kenyans.


“I know Mr Odinga is not interested in coming to the Senate. Moments after we addressed the press last week he called me. He was concerned that we did it without consulting him. Remember, I had even offered to resign for him to take over my parliamentary seat,” Mr Kaluma said.


And Kasipul MP Oyugi Magwanga who also spoke to The Sunday Nation moments after he came back from the United States said the matter required time to be thoroughly discussed.


“We should consider it if it is going to add value to our politics. I do not want to be in the group that is opposing it if somehow it is going to help us achieve something. But if in some way it will not help us then we must drop it,” he said.


Nyatike MP Omondi Anyanga, who first suggested that Mr Odinga should run, said more meetings will be held in four counties in Luo Nyanza to come up with a firm decision on the matter.


He dismissed those who have said the idea was a joke.


“We are serious we want Mr Odinga to contest as part of our preparation for the 2017 elections. Candidates in Homa Bay who are interested in this position must swallow their pride and look at the bigger picture,” he said.


UNFORTUNATE PROPOSAL
It is not the first time Mr Odinga’s allies are pushing for a way to have him back in Parliament.


In 2013, some allies of the ODM leader were said to have approached Kisumu Central MP Ken Obura to step down for him.


“Yes I was approached to step down for Mr Odinga. While I would not refuse to give way to him, I thought it would not have been a bright idea to have him as minority leader (in the National Assembly) while Mr Aden Duale is majority leader,” Mr Obura said, alluding that Mr Duale is junior to the former PM.


After he declined to give way, pressure was turned on Kibra MP Mr Ken Okoth who also declined to resign.


At the same time 17 ODM officials from eight constituencies in the county issued a statement condemning attempts to drag Mr Odinga into the race.


“We the chairmen and secretaries of all eight ODM branches that make the county branch hereby reject the unfortunate proposal by a section of ODM MPs principally from outside Homa Bay that the party leader contests for the Homa Bay senatorial seat,” read part of the statement.


The group led by the party’s Suba branch chairman Ken Oure told Mr Odinga to be conscious of a local agreement among the eight constituencies on how to share the top county positions. In 2013, a pre-election pact on key elective positions was arrived at among the three blocs in the county.


The greater Rachuonyo was to get the governor’s slot; Homa Bay town, Rangwe and Ndhiwa constituencies were to provide a candidate for the Woman Representative while Mbita and Suba constituencies were given the Senate seat. Positions in the county assembly were also divided.


“This is demeaning to our party leader. We are warning these MPs to keep off the affairs of Homa Bay County. The only county in the ODM strongholds that elected its governor, senator and MPs from ODM,” read the statement.


HOME TO REBELS
Elders from the region led by the Chairman of the Luo Council of Elders Mr Willis Otondi and his predecessor Mr Riaga Ogallo urged Mr Odinga to ignore the appeals of the MPs.


“We have been so hopeful that Mr Odinga will become President after the coming election. It is so destructing that while we put focus on the presidency someone wants him to become a mere senator,” Mr Otondi said.


And Mr Ogallo said Mr Odinga does not come from Homa Bay County and that it would be embarrassing for him to get into confrontation with county leaders.


Several candidates including two of Mr Odinga’s former aides, Mr Caroli Omondi and Mr Silas Jakakimba, have already hit the ground running as they campaign to succeed Mr Kajwang’.


Mr Jakakimba has been endorsed by Suba elders. The late senator’s brother Moses Kajwang’ and former National Social Security Fund Managing Trustee Fred Rabongo, who comes from Kajwang’s Waondo village, have also announced their intention to run.


The race may also include former MPs Philip Okundi and Martin Ogindo, Dr Kenneth Kambona, Mr Herbert Ojwang’, Mr Hillary Alila and Mr Odoyo Owidi.


“It will be unfair for Mr Odinga to attempt to seek a position from this side while he knows very well he is not a resident of Homa Bay County. If he does I will contest and am sure I will give him a run for his money,” Mr Owidi said.


The county is home to most of the MPs branded rebels for agitating for internal change with the ODM establishment. They include Mr James Rege (Karachuonyo), Mr Sylvance Osele (Kabondo Kasipul), Mr George Oner (Rangwe) and Mr Augustinho Neto (Ndhiwa).


THE FINAL SAY
Mr Magwanga, Mr Mbadi, Mr Kaluma and Mbita MP Millie Odhiambo are considered Mr Odinga’s allies in the county.


Meanwhile, the ODM leadership could go for direct nomination to pick a candidate to contest the Homa Bay seat in the February 2 by-election. The IEBC gave all parties until December 19 to nominate their flag bearers.


A number of MPs have floated the idea of party leader Raila Odinga contesting the seat to replace the late Senator Kajwang’.


In light of this, those who had shown interest in the seat are said to be holding secret discussions with Cord affiliate parties to get nomination certificates just in case the ODM certificate goes to Mr Odinga.


But Ugunja MP Opiyo Wandayi who is also ODM secretary for political affairs said the people of Homa Bay will have the final say on who becomes their senator.


“The seat is precious to us; we will stop at nothing to recapture it; nomination of a satisfactory candidate is the answer to getting the seat,” he said.


ODM is the dominant party in the county and whoever gets the ticket is likely to carry the day.

Uhuru rallies MPs to pass Bill to fight terrorism and banditry

 


President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy, Mr William Ruto, on Wednesday rallied Jubilee MPs to pass an amendment Bill to fight terrorism and banditry.

The President hosted the MPs and senators at State House, where he explained why he needed more powers to deal with terrorism and asked them to pass the Security Laws (Amendment) Bill.

MPs who attended the meeting said the President said he was being blamed by the opposition, civil societies and the clergy for failing to tame insecurity yet the law did not give him the authority to deal decisively with the attacks.

“The President said everyone was saying the buck stopped with him but the Constitution did not give him enough powers to fight terrorism,” said an MP who requested not to be named.

A senator said the President argued that since the buck stopped with him, he deserved the powers that would allow him to deal decisively with government officials who failed in their duties.

He made it clear that he needed the powers to come down hard on the Inspector-General of Police and the two deputies, the Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and the National Intelligence Service (NIS) director.

SECURITY TENURE

The Bill, which is expected to be taken up for debate in the House on Wednesday, proposes to take away the security of tenure of the Inspector-General of Police and the two deputies, the NIS director and the DCI.

The proposed law comes two weeks after suspected Al-Shabaab militants killed 64 people in Mandera in two separate incidents.

Opposition leaders and the public heaped pressure on the President and called for his resignation.

President Kenyatta responded by nominating Kajiado Central MP Joseph Nkaissery as Interior Cabinet secretary in the place of Mr Joseph ole Lenku. Inspector-General of Police David Kimaiyo retired and is yet to be replaced.

National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale told the House that the Bill would go for the second reading and possibly allow for the third reading at a later date or on the same day.

Jubilee MPs meet this morning to discuss how to rally their colleagues to pass the Bill.

Said Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria: “There will be a meeting tomorrow (Thursday). We want to make it clear that when the Bill comes to the House, there will be no coalitions, religious affiliations or partnerships. We ask Kenyans to watch out for those who will be on the side of freedom and democracy and those who will be on the side of terrorists and killers.”

The opposition has criticised the amendment Bill, arguing that it infringes on freedom of expression, freedom of the media and Kenyans' right to privacy of Kenyans.

Kenyans nominate 10 most favourite MPs in 2014

Ten Members of Parliament have been nominated as the most favourite leaders in 2014.


Through online voting, Kenyans nominated their most favourite MP in 10 different categories, with three nominees initially in each category.


The parliamentarians were selected based on Bills moved, contributions to Bills, motions raised and statements issued from March 2013 to November 2014.


The categories, under the banner Wanjiku’s Best Representative, are education, water, health, food, devolution, oversight (progressive legislation), budgetary oversight and youth.


The 10, who include members of the National Assembly and the Senate, are in the 2014 People’s Shujaaz Awards.


THE NOMINEES


MPs Boniface Gatobu (Buuri constituency in Meru County) and Senator Boni Khalwale (Kakamega) have been nominated as the most favourite leaders in the education category.


Mr Gatobu was nominated for moving a motion urging the government to establish a public databank of all bright students from low-income families.


The databank would be used when disbursing bursaries from public institutions and the Constituency Development Fund (CDF).


Dr Khalwale was nominated for his motion on equitable distribution of universities across counties.


In the health category, the nominees are Senator Wilfred Machage (Migori) and Dr James Nyikal (Seme MP).


Dr Machage was nominated for moving a motion urging the government to establish Level 5 hospitals in all 47 counties.


Dr Nyikal was nominated for his contributions on the health sector and devolution.


Ms Amina Abdalla (MP) was nominated in the water category for her contributions to the Water Bill of 2014, which seeks the separation of responsibilities between the water authorities at the national and county government levels.


Nominated Senator Beatrice Elachi was nominated as Wanjiku’s Best Representative in the food category.


Ms Elachi was nominated for her role in the Food Security Bill.


In the youth category, the nominee is Mr Chris Wamalwa (Kiminini MP).


FUNDS FOR WOMEN AND YOUTH


He was nominated for seeking to have the Sh6 billion initially earmarked for a presidential runoff in the 2013 elections to be disbursed to youth and women groups across the country.


Suba MP John Mbadi was nominated for his contribution to debates on salaries, allowances and vehicles allocated to constitutional commissioners.


Mukurweini MP Kabando wa Kabando was nominated in the oversight (progressive legislation) category for proposing the reintroduction of capital gains tax that was included in the Finance Bill of 2014, among other contributions.


Tharaka-Nithi Senator Kithure Kindiki was nominated as Wanjiku’s Best Representative for devolution.


Prof Kindiki is credited with contributing to several county Bills in the Senate.


These include the County Allocation of Revenue Bill of 2013; the Community Land Bill; the Division of Revenue Bill of 2014; and the County Retirement Scheme Bill, among others.


He is also recognised for a motion urging the national government to enter into agreements with county government to transfer resources, functions and powers to them.


The online voting, which was conducted by Mzalendo.com, lasted 10 days.

DPP wants speedy arrest of 15 men in rape of sisters in Tana River

                                                                                                                                                               The office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has expressed concerns about the delayed arrest of 15 people who allegedly gang-raped and defiled two sisters in Wayu, Tana River County.

In a letter dated December 9, 2014 the DPP ordered police in Hola to act swiftly and arrest the suspects, to avert a possible outbreak of inter-clan wars between the Somalis (the victims) and the Ormos (the alleged assailants).

“Our main concern is as to why there have been no arrests by Hola OCS from the day he received the file from Bura Police Station for his action,” reads the letter addressed to Tana River County Criminal Investigation Officer.

“Two communities are involved here. We must act as quickly as possible to avert any possible break out of war between the Somalis and Ormos, who are awaiting your action,” the letter emphasises.

This comes barely two days after protests from the families of the victims and civil society, who accused the area chief and the OCS of deliberately shielding the suspects from arrest.

“We know and we have evidence that there is (a) deliberate attempt by (the) Bura OCS and (the) Wayu chief to cover up this matter. That is why the Bura OCS transferred the file to Hola and yet the crime (took) place in his area of command,” said Ibrahim Aden, a child rights activist.

The two sisters, aged 16 and 23, were on Friday waylaid and allegedly gang-raped by a group of about 15 youths in Wayu Location in Bura, Tana Sub-County, while their father was tied to a tree and forced to watch as his daughters were assaulted.

The elderly father and his daughters had gone to look for their lost camel when they were ambushed and dragged to a nearby thicket, where the girls were allegedly repeatedly raped.

TRY THEM IN GARISSA

Bonny Okemwa, the principal prosecution counsel who wrote the letter on behalf of the senior assistant director of public prosecutions, insisted that the suspects, when arrested, must be taken to the Garissa Law Courts although the offence was committed in the jurisdiction of the Hola Law Courts, saying he fears there could be witness interference in Hola.

“There are so many compelling reasons as to why we need this matter to be heard (in) Garissa, one being the availability of witnesses.

“We have secured witnesses here and the fear of the suspects' family members interfering with our witnesses,” reads the two-page letter, which is also copied to the Tana River county commissioner and the county children's officer.

The office of the DPP further wants the relevant government organs to act promptly and arrest the 15 men.

“Please act and let us have the 15 and more men who did this.

"Your office has the machinery to protect or conduct the prompt arrest, let us have them by Wednesday December 10, 2014,” it reads.

The DPP also requested the county criminal investigations officer to give a stern warning to the area chief and his assistant, who have been reported to be interfering with investigations and efforts to prosecute the culprits by allegedly compromising and threatening key witnesses.